for the rest of our
natural lives."

"Go ahead, and tell the rest of it to the mash-tubs and the still. I've
heard as much as I can stand, an I must have a breath of fresh air. I'm
going into the other cabin to see what's there."

Kent followed him to the door, with the jug in his hand.

"Kent, there's a man coming down the path there," said Abe, pulling
himself together, after the manner of a half-drunken man whose attention
is powerfully distracted.

"Where?" asked Kent, setting the jug down with solicitous gentleness,
and reaching back for his musket.

"There, by that big chestnut. Can't you see him? or have you got so much
whisky in you, that you can't see anything? He's in Rebel clothes, and
he's got a gun. I'm going to shoot him."

"Maybe he's one of these loyal Kentuckians. Hold on a minute, till you
are sure," said Kent, half cocking his own gun.

"The last words of General Washington were 'Never trust a nigger with
a gun.' A man with that kind o' cloze has no business carrying weapons
around in this country. I'm going to shoot."

"If you shoot with your hands wobbling that way, you'll make him aas
full of holes as a skimmer. That'd be cruel. Steady yourself up a
little, while I talk to him.

"Halt, there!" commanded Kent, with a thick tongue. "Who are you, and
how many are with you?"

"I'm a Union man," said Fortner, for it was he, "an' I'm alone."

"Lay down your gun and come up here, if you are a friend," ordered Kent.

The swaggering imperiousness in Edward's tone nettled Fortner as much as
the order itself. "I don't make a practice of layin' down my gun for no
man," he said proudly. "I'm ez good Union ez ary of you'uns dar be,
an' I don't take no orders from ye. I could've killed ye both, ef I'd a
wanted ter, afore ye ever seed me."

Bolton's gun cracked, and the bullet buried itself in the thick, soft
bark of the chestnut, just above Fortner's head, and threw dust and
chips in his eyes. He brushed them away angrily, and instinctively
raised his rifle. Kent took this as his cue to fire, but his aim was
even worse than Abe's.

"Ruined again by strong drink," he muttered despairingly, as he saw the
failure of his shot. "Nothing but new apple jack could make me miss so
fair a mark."

"Now, ye fellers, lay down YORE guns!" shouted Fortner, springing
forward to where they were, with his rifle cocked. "Lay 'em down! I say.
Lay 'em down, or I'll let daylight through ye!"

"He's got us, Abe," s